Markham firms ink deals in China

Markham Economist & Sun

Editor's note: This is a corrected version of an earlier story. The Canada CleanTech Capital deal mentioned earlier was not associated with this trade mission.

Last month’s trade mission to China fostered new investments and alliances for Markham.
The trade mission was one of the largest organized by the Confederation of Greater Toronto Chinese Business Association with more than 30 delegates and a visit to nine cities over 16 days.
The mission, led by Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti, further strengthened economic and cultural ties between Markham and key cities in China.
Mr. Scarpitti, accompanied by regional councillors Gord Landon and Joe Li, councillors Alex Chiu and Alan Ho and businesses representing the high-tech, real estate, medical and health care and financial services travelled to Qingdao, Zibo, Shanghai, Beijing, Wuhan, Huadu, Foshan, Zhongshan and Shenzhen, visited 12 high-tech industrial parks and toured more than 20 businesses.
“Markham’s diverse international business sector has served us well in fostering strategic alliances and agreements on this and other international trade missions,” Mr. Scarpitti said.
City delegates also participated in a commemorative event at Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall as well as a friendship tree planting ceremony in Haudu.
Markham also renewed its alliance with Wuhan, Markham’s sister city and Haudu. New relationships were developed with the cities of Zibo and Foshan.
Markham company, Merit Education, also established a relationship with Wuhan Huazhong University of Science and Technology.
Meanwhile, the provincial government has announced another Markham company, Canada CleanTech Capital, signed an agreement worth more than $3 million with Senboll Group in Shenzhen that will result in the creation of about eight jobs in Canada and about 20 in China over the next two years.
Ontario's trade mission saw delegates meet as many as 500 Chinese companies earlier this month as part of the fourth trade mission to China led by Premier Dalton McGuinty.